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Nightmare
Chapter 3 Expansion

Chapter 3 Expansion

Next day, in the bathroom.

"Jack, I heard that the wimp in your class slash your face, and you followed him. Is that true?" A tall boy with a cigarette and looked at Jack. Jack grimaced, "If you dare to call him a wimp, I'll beat you!"

The tall boy pinched the fat on Jack's face and said: "Jack, do you know who you're talking to?"

Jack locked eyes with the tall boy and declared, "Do you genuinely believe I'm intimidated by you? Eric, cease this facade of grandeur simply due to your acquaintances!" Eric's lips curled into a knowing smile as he retorted, "Fair enough, young one. Anticipate my presence after school today. if you dare to leave, I will break your leg!"

Jack's gaze bore into his eyes, his voice unwavering, "I await your presence alongside Louis. There shall be no evading during that interval."

Back to the classroom, Jack told Louis about Eric. Louis asked Jack: "Who is Eric? What’s he used do?" "It's the tall boy who used to be with me, and he stole your money with me last time." Speaking of this, he glanced at Louis carefully, seeing that he didn't care, then he continued: "He is Eric. He has been out to play around for 3 years school, and he has a group of people following him."

Louis nodded and asked him: "How many people can you recruit?" Jack thought for a while and said: "There are five or six reliable ones! The others are just bluffs, and they will be the first to run if the limelight is not right."

Louis said: "Okay then, go and get those reliable people over for a look." Jack agreed and went out.

18:00 pm, the second floor of classroom.

Positioned discreetly at the rear of the classroom, Jack seized a stool, swiftly propelling it to the floor with a resounding crash that reverberated through the corridor, reducing the stool to fragments. Retrieving a sturdy two-foot stool leg, Jack then approached Louis's desk: "Hold it, it may useful down the line."

Louis declined with a firm shake of his head: "I have no use for it." Jack recognizing Louis's stance, refrained from further words and discreetly stowed the stool legs beneath a nearby desk. Moments later, the classroom door was forcefully kicked open, its jarring resonance sending a startle through Jack. Swiveling his head, he beheld Eric ushering a cohort of seven or eight individuals into the room. "Well, well, it appears you two possess a degree of courage, eagerly awaiting my arrival!" Eric quipped, his gaze turning to his companions with an amused chuckle, "Behold~~ the spectacle of these two fools!"

Louis didn't speak. Jack heard it, the fire in his heart burned to the top, "Eric, come to fight with me one-on-one!"

"One-on-one with you? Who are you?" Turning his head to Louis, he said, "Come here!"

Louis ascended with deliberate grace, advancing toward Eric as Jack trailed in his wake. Observing Louis, who stood a half-head shorter, Eric's eyes momentarily conveyed a flicker of disdain. "I heard that your recent aversion to arrogance and your endeavors to recruit from my ranks," Eric remarked with a hint of derision, his attention shifting briefly to Jack, whom he dismissed as inconsequential. "While Jack remains a dimwit of no consequence, I find this affront too insufferable to bear. Tell me, what resolution can mend this indignity?" Louis's gaze lowered, veiling his eyes beneath a curtain of hair as his voice, cool as ice, escaped from the corner of his lips: "Should wisdom guide you; departure would be your best course. Jack possesses his own agency in this matter."

Eric's heart inexplicably skipped a beat upon hearing the frigid tone, yet upon catching sight of a grinning Jack behind Louis, he cast aside any hint of vulnerability. "And what prowess do you believe you possess?" he retorted, seizing a handful of Louis's hair and yanking it downward, simultaneously raising his leg and delivering a forceful knee to Louis's face. Louis knelt on the ground, blood trickling from his nose. With a resounding shout, Jack charged towards Eric, only to be swiftly overpowered and subdued by the individuals accompanying Eric.

Eric's face bore a cruel smile as he delivered a kick that sent Louis tumbling to the ground. "What's the matter? Can't handle it so soon?" Eric sneered, pressing his foot against Louis's face and turning back to taunt Jack, "Your leader is beneath my foot~~~"

Jack struggled to rise, but four or five individuals held his limbs in restraint. "Eric, I..." His words were cut short by a blow to his face from someone nearby, causing Jack to cough and spit out a mouthful of blood.

Louis, sprawled on the ground, suddenly seized the ankle of the foot planted on his face with his left hand, causing Eric to pause in confusion. With his right hand, Louis drew forth a knife and drove it into Eric's thigh. "Ah~~" Eric emitted a scream akin to a wounded animal, clutching his injured leg as he staggered back a few steps. Louis rose to his feet, approaching Eric. His fist connected with Eric's face, followed by a series of punches.

Eric's companions were taken aback by the rapid turn of events, left momentarily bewildered. However, Louis showed no signs of stopping, his eyes blazing red as he continued to unleash a flurry of punches and kicks upon Eric. In a short span of time, Eric's face was smeared with blood, and he collapsed to the ground.

Taking advantage of the momentary distraction of the others, Jack seized the opportunity to rise. He grabbed a stool leg that had been hidden beneath a desk and swung it at the person who had kicked him earlier. The person let out a muffled groan and knelt down, blood trickling between their fingers.

Jack bellowed, "Guys, come out and help me now!" Jack struggled to remember, but four or five people held down his hands and feet respectively. "Eric, I..." Before he could finish speaking, he was kicked in the face by the person next to him. Jack coughed and spat out a mouthful of blood.

There were chaotic footsteps in the corridor. After a while, another seven or eight people entered the classroom. Jack yelled: "Let’s go fight!", Jack swung the leg of the stool and hit the others. Later, a group of people came in, without saying a word, they surrounded the people brought by Eric and beat them.

Louis grabbed Eric's hair and pulled his head up. At this time, Eric was in a daze, one eye was swollen, and the other eye looked at the person in front of him and said, "OK, I’m sorry. Forgive me this time. Because I am not as ruthless as you. You can do whatever you like!"

Louis put the blade on his neck and said, "You have two choices now. One is to be hanged, the other is to follow me. Now get your choice." Louis put down Eric and steps back. At this time, the others stood behind Louis. A student immediately moved a stool, and Louis glanced at him and sat on it with a slight smile, crossed his legs, and stroked his fingers lightly on his face.

Eric wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, looked at his subordinates lying on the ground and asked, "OK, what's your name?"

"Louis." Louis replied putting the knife into his trouser pocket.

"I convinced you, you are my boss from now on!" Eric felt that this person in front of him was not only ruthless, but also very intelligent, and he should be a great person in the future.

Louis stood up, patted Eric on the shoulder and said, "Well! We will be together from now on." Then he walked out of the classroom. Eric looked at his back, and still remembered the eager look in his mind when Louis patted him on the shoulder just now. At this moment, he felt a kind of happiness for no reason.

The newcomers all seemed a bit dumbfounded. They were all friends of Jack's. Today, Jack told them that he had a leader and asked them to meet him. Upon meeting, they were greatly disappointed because the person before them, Louis, had nothing remarkable. Out of respect for Jack's reputation, they also addressed Louis as "Boss," but inwardly, they couldn't accept it. Little did they expect that this seemingly ordinary person, in their eyes, would single-handedly handle Eric within moments, compelling Eric to submit and become a subordinate. Now, they truly respect and acknowledge Louis.

Jack broke the silence and said to the others: "Why are you still standing there? Take Eric and his injured bodies to the hospital!" After hearing this, the others hurriedly carried Eric and his injured men. Eric pushed away the person who came to help him, struggled to stand up and said, "I can walk by myself"

Jack walked towards Eric: "Eric, we will be together from now on. It's good choice to following Louis. Come, I'll help you!" Jack supported Eric who was shaking, and Eric sighed: "Hey, you..." The partner laughed and walked towards the hospital.

Louis walked on the way home, thinking about what happened in the past two days. How to avoid to be bullied? Only become stronger than others. How to be better than others? That's tough enough. The famous bastards in the school have basically been controlled by him, and there are factors outside the university. Louis decided to establish his own influence, centered around the university, by recruiting some troublemakers from the society. These people are young, and they are easy to control. To be honest, they are ruthless enough. Now Louis's mind is far ahead of his actual age, even some experienced person can't match him.

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At home, Louis remained unchanged, still an obedient and well-behaved son in the eyes of his parents. At school, he continued to be an exemplary student in the eyes of his teachers. However, his reputation had spread in the vicinity of the school. The local troublemakers all knew that a new kingpin had emerged recently – Louis, who was particularly fierce in fights, armed with a knife.

One day, Louis was in class as usual. He believed that no matter what he did or what he would do in the future, knowledge was always very important. After class, Jack ran in from outside and whispered to Louis, "Steven's men want to see you."

Louis was bowing his head over a piece of paper, working on a math problem without lifting his head: "Tell him to wait for a moment, I'll finish this question." Jack nodded and dashed out again.

Steven was a notorious bully in this area, well-known for his brutal fights. Once, he engaged in a fierce fight with someone, leaving a two-inch scar on his forehead. This was how Steven's reputation came to be.

Jack ran downstairs, and there were two groups of people on the playground. One group was led by Eric, consisting of a ten individuals, while the other group was led by Steven and had a similar number. Eric, with his head tilted, was squatting on the ground smoking. He flicked the cigarette butt away upon seeing Jack's return, stood up, and inquired, 'Jack, where's Louis?”

"Louis will come down later, let them wait!" Jack's fat body was slightly panting.

Eric was upset when he saw it: "Look at your fat, it's time to lose weight! After running for a few steps, you panted like a pig."

"You think I don't want to lose weight. It's that easy?" Jack looked at the impatient Steven's hands and said, "Just wait a little longer, Louis will be down in a while."

"Really thinks highly of himself!" remarked a person wearing sunglasses discontentedly.

After hearing these words, Jack felt a surge of anger rush to his head. He walked up to the person, without warning, and punched him in the face, sending his sunglasses flying far away. Steven's companions hadn't anticipated such a swift reaction, and many of them discreetly placed their hands inside their clothes, clutching concealed switchblades. At this moment, another person gestured with a wave and said to Jack, "The newcomer doesn't understand the rules. Please excuse the spectacle."

Jack smiled and said, "OK OK, no problem!" Then he stared at the man and said, "Take your subordinates out and train them first, Understand?"

The person's expression changed in an instant, but quickly he put on a forced smile and said, "OK, I'll remember the lesson from that punch!"

Observing the person's arrogant demeanor, Eric couldn't restrain himself and rushed forward, delivering a swift kick to the person's abdomen. The individual bent over, taking a few steps back. At this point, Steven's group could no longer suffer more, drawing their knives. Jack and Eric's group also brandished their weapons. Tensions escalated as the two sides stood on the brink of confrontation, each person locking eyes to identify their adversaries. Suddently, with his hands casually in his pockets, Louis strolled out from the building: "What a lively scene!" Louis moved to the center of the crowd, disregarding the knives in their hands. The leader of the group, while massaging his stomach, asked, "Who are you? What are you here for?"

Louis didn't speak, Jack said loudly, "This is our boss!"

The person scrutinized Louis from head to toe, "Is this place so bereft of suitable candidates that they've settled for an undernourished leader?" Louis caught the flicker of disdain in their eyes and stood there with a cheerful smile.

After a while, the man nodded and said, "Louis, Steven has something to discuss with you. Can you come out to get together if you have time tonight?"

"No problem, tell me the time and place." Louis readily agreed.

The man nodded again: "Spring KTV, Steven will be waiting for you there."

"Alright, See you tonight." In fact, Louis had been wanting to meet Steven for a while, but he didn't expect him to approach on his own today. Watching Steven’s men leave, Louis said to Jack and Eric, "Both of you acted too impulsively, you need to be more careful in the future." Eric lowered his head without saying a word, while Jack exclaimed loudly, "They were too arrogant, I wouldn't have laid a hand on them if they hadn't insulted you first."

Louis smiled and said: "I don't mean to blame you; I just remind you that keeping a clear mind all times can save you from suffering!"

Jack and Eric nodded together and said, "Understood, Louis!" They felt that what Louis said made sense. If they fight just now, although they have more persons, they might not have a chance of winning.

Eric thought for a while and said, "Louis, I think there must be a trap for Steven to come to us. See if we can discuss it..."

Louis said, "If we truly intend to establish ourselves here, we must first overcome tonight's challenge. There might be dangers ahead, but if we lack the courage, what's the point of being in this together?" Eric's face flushed upon hearing this, and he nodded in agreement, saying, "Louis, tell us your plan for the evening. I'll follow your lead!"

Louis nodded, thinking deeply.

At night, Jack asked Eric: "What time is it?" Eric looked at his watch and patted him on the shoulder, "It's not dark yet! Don't be so nervous!"

Jack said, "It's no wonder you're not nervous! The man is Steven!"

"What's wrong with Steven? He is human as well. He vomits when he drinks too much, and diarrhea when he eats too much!" Eric's words caused a burst of laughter. Jack laughed and said, "You're right."

At this time, Louis came down from the corridor on the second floor. Everyone put away their smiles, stood straight on both sides of the stairs, bent down and said together: "Good evening, Louis!"

Louis nodded and asked, "Have you brought everything?" Jack said, "Don't worry, Louis, everyone has a weapon."

"Ok, let's go. Now we can finally meet the legendary Steven!" Louis said. Everyone looked at Louis with a relaxed face, and felt relieved. They talked and laughed all the way to Spring KTV.

Spring KTV is not far away, and students from nearby usually come here to sing KTV. This KTV is near the university, and the price is cheap, but the equipment is outdated.

Louis and others came to Spring KTV. At this time, there were no customers in the KTV, so Steven took care of everything. Seeing Louis leading a group of people in, Steven smiled and greeted him. The lights inside the KTV were dim, Louis could see his appearance clearly when Steven approached. Steven is about twenty years old, about 1.8m tall, with a crew cut. The first impression is that this person is very forthright and always smiles

Steven was also sizing up Louis, nodding as he said, “You're the famous Louis lately, right?”

Louis chuckled and replied, “So Steven knows my name now, whether that's a blessing or a curse, I wonder.”

Steven paused briefly, then laughed again, “Louis, you're perceptive! I like it!” He handed a microphone to Louis and said, “Interested in singing a song?” Without hesitation, Louis accepted the microphone, stating, “ven if I can't sing well, I have to do it; otherwise, it would be disrespectful.” Steven squinted and commented, “I love hearing you say that!”

After finishing a song, Steven continued, “I shouldn't really inquire about your situation at school, but when you encroach upon my territory and form alliances without even giving me a heads-up, that's a bit much.”

Louis saying, 'I've only recently established my group. There are things I don't quite understand, so I'll need your guidance.'"

"I wouldn't dare claim to instruct; after all, we're all collaborators, right?" Steven continued, "You must have made quite a bit of money at school recently, haven't you?"

"Not much, just some spare change from the poorer students. Probably just a few tens of dollars a day," Louis replied after a pause.

Steven chuckled, "You're speaking quite modestly; I bet you make at least a few hundred in a month!" Steven went on to say, "Originally, I used to hold sway around here, but now that you're the big shot at unikversity, none of my underlings can get in. Do you think you could offer a way out?"

Louis smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare claim to offer a way out! Since things have come to this point, it seems there are only a few options left to consider." Steven set down the microphone and asked, "Oh? What are they?" Louis continued, "Either you leave, or I leave, or we merge."

"You're right!" Steven's gaze turned cold. "Are you trying to drive me out of this area?"

Louis chuckled and locked eyes with Steven. "You don't need to intimidate me. Since I'm here, I'm not afraid of you. If it comes to a showdown, we might not necessarily lose. But this situation isn't beneficial for anyone!"

Steven dared not underestimate this thin and frail-looking youth any longer. His intuition told him that this person was not simple. Whether it was intelligence or courage, he was not weaker than someone who had been navigating society for a long time.

Steven retrieved a box of cigarettes from his pocket, took out two, and handed one to Louis. Louis said with a smile: “Thank you.” and Jack, who was nearby, came over to light their cigarettes. Steven glanced at Jack and said: "This kid knows what he should doing!" After a pause, he continued, "What do you suggest we do?"

"I propose a merger. It would be beneficial for everyone, and no one would lose out," Louis exhaled a smoke ring.

"Merger is a good idea. It would indeed benefit both sides. However..."

Louis couldn't unaware of Steven's intention. He was asking who would take on the position of leader. Steven remained silent, merely nodding as he squinted at Louis. "I may not have the qualifications to vie for the position of leader against you. However, if I were to step down without a fight, the guys beneath us would view me as spineless. So, let's settle it this way," Louis proposed. Steven furrowed his brows, inquiring, "How?"

"A one-on-one duel! You against me. The winner becomes the leader," a glint of cold determination flashed in Louis's eyes. Steven was taken aback, struggling to believe that he had suggested this course of action. He scrutinized Louis once more. There was nothing particularly remarkable about him – standing at 1.7 meters tall, rather thin and frail. How could he dare utter such words?

Steven burst into laughter, asking, "Are you serious?" Louis replied, "Absolutely!"

"No problem! When do you suggest?" Steven exuded unwavering confidence.

Louis glanced around and said, "This place works. I don't have much free time. How about right now?"

"No problem!"

Louis took off his shirt. Neither Jack nor Eric had anticipated that things would escalate to this point. Jack asked with some concern: "Louis, are you really going for a one-on-one showdown? Steven is infamous for his fighting skills around here!" Louis tossed his shirt to Jack and whispered, "This is the best way to resolve the issue. We're short on manpower, and we can't afford to lose a brawl against Steven!" He turned and walked toward Steven.

At that moment, Steven instructed someone to turn on all the lights in the room. The space instantly flooded with brightness. Steven himself removed his shirt, preparing himself. He found it ridiculous now that he was about to fight with someone malnourished.

Louis positioned himself in front of Steven without a hint of nervousness. The room fell silent as everyone watched the two figures standing in the center. An intangible pressure hung in the air.

Seeing that Louis hadn't made a move yet, Steven spoke first, "Can we begin?" Louis nodded and said, "Let's get started!"

"Watch out!" Steven threw a punch at Louis. Louis took a step back, evading the punch, but then received a kick to his abdomen from Steven. Louis tumbled from the impact of the kick. Before he could even rise, Steven seized the opportunity to strike again, landing another kick to his stomach. Louis slid nearly two meters before coming to a halt. Jack could not restrain himself any longer, readied to draw his blade, but Eric intervened, whispering, "Wait a bit longer!"